Trout’s term is set to expire at the end of 2014. Hock has the option of running to keep the seat in the November election that year.

Hock did not attend the special meeting. He was unable to be reached late Thursday night.

He had been one of three people the Woodbury Republican Executive Committee had recommended to city council in a letter.

Trout, who is chairman of the party committee, penned the letter, which was received on the same day as his resignation letter.

The other possible choices for Trout’s replacement were former Councilwoman Leslie Clark and city attorney Michael Aimino Jr.

The names were chosen by only those members of the party committee who live in the third ward.

However, there have been doubts about whether that is the proper procedure according to the committee’s bylaws, and an attorney has been reviewing the rules, according to Trout.

There are a total of 22 seats on the Woodbury Republican Executive Committee, although several are vacant. There are eight seats from the third ward — two from each voting district — with three of them currently vacant.